Hyperthermia (cont.)

Steven Doerr, MD

Steven Doerr, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Doerr received his undergraduate degree in Spanish from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He graduated with his Medical Degree from the University Of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado in 1998 and completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine from Denver Health Medical Center in Denver, Colorado in 2002, where he also served as Chief Resident.

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is a medical emergency requiring immediate medical attention. It is the most severe form of heat-related illness, and it can sometimes lead to death or permanent disability. Heat stroke occurs when the body's ability to regulate its internal temperature has failed. The body's temperature rises rapidly in excess of 104 F
(40. C), leading to damage to the brain and other vital organs. Generally, the extent of injury depends on the duration of exposure to excessive heat and the peak temperature attained. Heat stroke is sometimes referred to as sunstroke.

Heat stroke can be categorized as either exertional heat stroke (EHS) or
nonexertional heat stroke (NEHS). Exertional heat stroke generally occurs in young, healthy individuals who engage in strenuous activity in hot weather. Nonexertional heat stroke (also referred to as classic heat stroke) typically occurs in the elderly, the very young, or the chronically ill.

What are the signs and symptoms of heat stroke?

Warning signs of heat stroke vary but
may include:

high body temperature (above 104 F or 40 C),

skin that is red, hot, and either moist or dry (sweating may have
stopped),

rapid heart rate,

difficulty breathing,

headache,

dizziness,

loss of coordination,

nausea and vomiting,

confusion and
restlessness,

seizures, and

unconsciousness/coma.

What is the treatment for heat stroke?

If you see any of these signs, you may
be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Have someone call for immediate
medical assistance while you begin cooling the affected individual:

Get the person to a cool indoor or outdoor area and remove restrictive
clothing.

Cool the person rapidly using whatever methods
you can. For example, if possible, immerse the person in a tub of cool water or place
them in a cool shower. You may also spray them with lukewarm water and blow cool
air from a fan towards them. If the humidity is low, loosely wrap the person's
body in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously. Alternatively, place
ice or cold packs to the armpits, neck, and groin areas.

Monitor body
temperature, and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to
about 102 F or lower (38.8 C), in order to prevent overcooling the affected
individual.

If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the
hospital emergency room for further instructions.

If the affected individual is awake and alert, give them cool fluids to drink. Do not give
them alcohol to drink.

Sometimes the affected individual's muscles will begin to twitch
uncontrollably (seizure) as a result of heat stroke. If this happens,
try to keep the individual from injuring themselves, but do not place any object in the mouth and do
not give fluids. If there is vomiting, make sure the airway remains open by
turning the person on their side to prevent choking.